Matthew Sweet

Girlfriend

Sweet, sweet music

Review Score:

(10/10)
"Thought that can merge wholly into feeling, feeling that can merge wholly into thought -- these are the artist's highest joy."

-- Thomas Mann, "Death In Venice"

The word "transcendent" is one of the most overused adjectives in the rock music critic pantheon. I'd love to avoid it, as I contemplate the greatness of Girlfriend, but it's just too true...I can't help it...

This is a transcendent rock album.

How in the world is this guy not a household name, after this album? Before one gets angry -- angry with the tin-eared music industry, mostly -- one remembers that Van Gogh sold absolutely diddly during his life. Only the passage of time peeled the onion skins from the eyes of the beholders so that they saw the true greatness of the man's work. Eleven years after Girlfriend was released, Matty is thankfully still alive and able to accept the apologies of people like me.

How so? I bought this gem in '92 after hearing "I've Been Waiting" (as perfect a pop tune as I could imagine) on, of all stations, WHFS in Washington, DC -- that bastion of alternative rock. Compared to the other "life sucks, gurls suck" fare of that era (RIP, Kurt), "Waiting" shone like a light in the darkness. And what perfect timing: After 10 years of marriage, I'd finally decided (!) that I really did love my wife and couldn't imagine an existence without her. Still, Girlfriend's plays on my machine were mostly that song -- that song only.

First glimmer: It's 1995 and I'm doing some work over at our townhouse community clubhouse. Decide to put Matty in as some "background music." Soon, five people are around, asking "Who is this? It's great stuff."

Second glimmer: I give the CD a little more airtime in my world and discover that the first four songs ("Divine Intervention", "Waiting", "Girlfriend", and "Looking at the Sun") are about as strong, musically and lyrically, as anything I've heard from the Beatles or Stones or Van or Bob Zimmerman or ANYBODY. And who are these guitarists? Oh, just Richard Lloyd and Robert Quine...maybe in the Top Ten of post-Elvis Stratocaster heroes (Scotty Moore, ya know I love ya). How much better can an album begin than with that weird, addictive "duh-duh, duh-duh-duh-duh, duh-duh-duh-duh, duddle-a-duh, DING, duh" riff?

Final glimmer: On the road, a month ago, with Girlfriend on and wrestling with our German Shepherd puppy driving up 270. "You Don't Love Me" comes on and all of a sudden, inexplicably, I'm crying as this simple two-verse, one chorus song reveals itself. This guy is cutting his heart in half to give us a look, with a sad/classic pedal-steel in tow, at how it was when his first marriage dissolved. I'm overwhelmed...I am so blessed...my life, my wife...this great music.

Later, I spend a quality evening with the whole CD and finally appreciate all of the colors on its palette...kind of like seeing Vincent's "Starry Night" in toto..."Your Sweet Voice" and "Nothing Lasts" are just outstanding...

Matthew Sweet has apparently submitted his resignation on the musical career. A loss for us, but probably very good timing. From what I've read, he sees a bigger picture than Rolling Stone or MTV or People Mag...God bless him for that. No needles or razor blades or shotguns for Matty. Just a concise, brilliant body of work, with Girlfriend as the Hope Diamond.

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